Karnataka residents have collectively lost Rs 109.01 crore in 2024 to digital arrest scams, where fraudsters impersonate law enforcement officials to deceive individuals into transferring large sums of money. Home Minister G Parameshwara revealed these figures on Thursday, December 12 in the Karnataka Legislative Council. However, law enforcement agencies managed to recover only Rs 9.45 crore—less than one-tenth of the total amount.
Responding to a query by BJP MLC K Prathap Simha Nayak, Parameshwara said 641 digital arrest cases were reported across the state this year, with Bengaluru accounting for the lion’s share at 480 cases—approximately three-fourths. Mysuru reported 24 cases, while 21 were registered in Mangaluru.
The minister said that the Karnataka police arrested 27 individuals linked to these scams. None of the accused in the cases reported in Bengaluru have been apprehended so far. The police have deactivated over 700 social media accounts and groups used to target victims. These include 268 Facebook groups, 465 Telegram groups, 15 Instagram accounts, and 61 WhatsApp groups.
Digital arrest scams follow a consistent modus operandi. Fraudsters pose as officials from law enforcement agencies or regulatory bodies like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). In some instances, they have impersonated judges and even conducted fake court hearings. By creating a climate of fear, these scammers extort money through threats of surveillance, arrest, and imprisonment.